acknowledge definition | Dictionary.com

ac⋅knowl⋅edge

[ak-nol-ij]

–verb (used with object), -edged, -edg⋅ing.

1.	to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of: to acknowledge one's mistakes.

2.	to show or express recognition or realization of: to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.

3.	to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of: The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.

4.	to show or express appreciation or gratitude for: to acknowledge a favor.

5.	to indicate or make known the receipt of: to acknowledge a letter.

6.	to take notice of or reply to: to acknowledge a greeting.

7.	Law. to confirm as binding or of legal force: to acknowledge a deed.

Origin:
1475–85; acknowleche, appar. either ME aknou(en) to recognize (OE oncnāwan; see a- ¹ , know ) + -leche n. suffix (OE *-lǣce, by-form of -lac; cf. knowledge, wedlock ); or b. aknouen and knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-

Related forms:

ac⋅knowl⋅edge⋅a⋅ble, adjective

ac⋅knowl⋅edg⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. concede, confess, grant. Acknowledge, admit, confess agree in the idea of declaring something to be true. Acknowledge implies making a statement reluctantly, often about something previously denied: to acknowledge a fault. Admit especially implies acknowledging something under pressure: to admit a charge. Confess usually means stating somewhat formally an admission of wrongdoing, crime, or shortcoming: to confess guilt; to confess an inability to understand.

Antonyms:
1. deny, disclaim, disavow.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To acknowledge

ac·knowl·edge (āk-nŏl'ĭj)

tr.v. ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing, ac·knowl·edg·es

1. To admit the existence, reality, or truth of.
2. To recognize as being valid or having force or power.
3. To express recognition of: acknowledge a friend's smile.
4. To express thanks or gratitude for.
1. To express recognition of: acknowledge a friend's smile.
2. To express thanks or gratitude for.
To report the receipt of: acknowledge a letter.
Law To accept or certify as legally binding: acknowledge a deed.

[Probably blend of Middle English knowlechen, to acknowledge (from knouen, to know; see know) and Middle English aknouen, to recognize (from Old English oncnāwan, to know : on-, on; see on + cnāwan, to know; see know).]
ac·knowl'edge·a·ble adj.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to admit the reality or truth of something, often reluctantly. To acknowledge is to accept responsibility for something one makes known: He acknowledged his mistake.
Admit implies reluctance in acknowledging one's acts or another point of view: "She was attracted by the frankness of a suitor who . . . admitted that he did not believe in marriage" (Edith Wharton).
Own stresses personal acceptance and responsibility: She owned that she feared for the child's safety.
Avow means to assert openly and boldly: "Old Mrs. Webb avowed that he, in the space of two hours, had worn out her pew more . . . than she had by sitting in it forty years" (Kate Douglas Wiggin).
Confess usually emphasizes disclosure of something damaging or inconvenient to oneself: I have to confess that I lied to you.
To concede is to intellectually accept something, often against one's will: The lawyer refused to concede that the two cases had similarities.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Acknowledge

Ac*knowl"edge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acknowledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Acknowledging.] [Prob. fr. pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See Knowledge, and cf. Acknow.]

1. To of or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God.

I acknowledge my transgressions. --Ps. li. 3.

For ends generally acknowledged to be good. --Macaulay.

2. To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him. --Prov. iii. 6.

By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. --Shak.

3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter.

They his gifts acknowledged none. --Milton.

4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledgea deed.

Syn: To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow; concede; confess.

Usage: Acknowledge, Recognize. Acknowledge is opposed to keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us (though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage; one who has done wrong acknowledges his fault; and author acknowledges his obligation to those who have aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance. Recognize supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings. Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence. We recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually recognize the providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing satisfactory credentials. See also Confess.

Language Translation for : acknowledge

Spanish: reconocer, admitir,

German: zugeben,

Japanese: 認める

More Translations »

acknowledge

1553, a blend of M.E. aknow (from O.E. oncnawan "understand," from on + cnawan "recognize;" see know) and M.E. verb knowlechen "admit." Somehow, in the merger, a parasitic -c- slipped in, so that, while the knc- became a simple "n" sound, the -c- stepped up to the plate to preserve, in this word, the ancient "kn-" sound.

Main Entry: ac·knowl·edge
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -edged; -edg·ing
1 : to indicate recognition and acceptance of acknowledged to be concurrent —McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)>
2 a : to show by word or act that one has knowledge of and accepts responsibility for (a duty, obligation, or indebtedness) b : to admit paternity of acknowledge the child as his> —compare FILIATE
3 : to make known to a sender or giver the receipt of (what has been sent or given) or the fact of (one's having received what has been sent or given) <acknowledge receipt of a letter>
4 : to recognize as genuine so as to give validity : avow or admit in legal form acknowledged before one of the officers —U.S. Code>

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